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Re: [GWL]: new topic?

Thing is, English, like all languages, is a living thing that changes
over time.

Take my favorite bitch: the use of "over" and "under" when "more than"
and "less than" are intended. The use of "over" and "under" is
ubiquitous. 

So, at what point does common usage become proper? If everybody does it,
is it then correct? Or do we have to wait until some authority
(Webster--OED---Funk & Wagnals) declares the change to be official?

Another aspect. Our job is to communicate. If something has become common
usage (i.e., "over" and "under"), and we insist on using correct grammer,
do we reach a point where we no longer are communicating with our
readers. If they all use "over," and we insist on "more than," don't they
start to think of us as boring snobs?

I haven't quite formed an opinion on this. But it does concern me.


Brook


On Thu, 03 Jan 2002 12:00:50 -0800 "Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>
writes:
> Alright Carolyn, you just talked yourself into it.  All grammar 
> gripes and
> spelling grumbles to be collected over the next 2 days (so this 
> doesn't run
> on forever) and assembled into a single list we can all print out 
> and use.
> Of course NONE of us are REALLY guilty of any errors in English.  
> :-)
> Start your engines!!
> -Lon
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